Trauma Overview: The Trauma Patient and the Trauma System

Flashcards covering key vocabulary and concepts from Chapter 27 regarding trauma systems and the kinetics of injury.

Newton’s first law of motion

A physics principle stating that a body at rest will remain at rest and a body in motion will remain in motion unless acted upon by an outside force.

Kinetic energy

The energy that is contained in a moving body.

Kinetics of trauma

The science of analyzing the mechanism of injury.

Mechanism of injury

The factors and forces that may have caused injury to a patient.

Index of suspicion

An EMT's anticipation of potential hidden injuries based on the evaluation of the mechanism of injury.

Acceleration

The rate at which a body in motion increases its speed.

Cavitation

A process where a bullet traveling through a body part produces a temporary indentation around the bullet’s actual path.

Platinum ten minutes

The maximum amount of time EMS should devote to on-scene activities for a critically injured patient.

Level I trauma center

A specific level of trauma facility that can manage all types of trauma victims.

Paper bag syndrome

An injury result that occurs from the compression of the chest against the steering column.